Consumer.gov Budget Worksheet
A straightforward worksheet for listing monthly income and expenses and seeing what remains.
Use the free worksheetPractical next steps
Financial resources you can use with confidence
Start with the area that matters most to you. These resources follow the checkup’s five categories, but your answers and score are never sent to this page or used to choose links.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links may eventually be affiliate links. If you use one, Free Finance Checkup may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are based on usefulness, cost, and suitability—not compensation. Every compensated link will be clearly labeled. Read our full policy.
01
Cash Flow
Understand where your money goes
Start with a simple monthly plan before paying for an app or service.
How to Make a Budget
Plain-language instructions for creating, using, and adjusting a monthly budget.
Read the budgeting guideWhat we look for in paid budgeting tools
Clear pricing, easy cancellation, useful automation, strong privacy practices, and enough time savings to justify the cost.
02
Emergency Savings
Build a cushion for the unexpected
Begin with a realistic goal and a safe, accessible place to keep the money.
CFPB Emergency Fund Guide
Practical strategies for starting a savings habit, handling irregular income, and deciding where to keep emergency funds.
Read the emergency-fund guideFDIC BankFind
Confirm whether a bank is FDIC-insured before opening or funding an account.
Check an institutionWhat we look for in savings accounts
Federal deposit insurance, competitive rates, no monthly fee, no misleading bonus requirements, and convenient access without encouraging everyday spending.
03
Debt Health
Make a clear repayment plan
Know what you owe, compare repayment approaches, and avoid high-cost shortcuts.
AnnualCreditReport.com
The federally authorized website for requesting free credit reports. Review reports for errors before paying for monitoring.
Request your credit reportsCFPB Debt Action Plan
Compare paying the smallest balance first with paying the highest interest rate first, then organize your debts.
Open the debt worksheet (PDF)What we will not promote
Payday or title loans, misleading credit-repair promises, high-pressure debt settlement, or services that hide fees or sell personal information.
04
Protection
Understand coverage before you shop
Learn the basics and compare needs, exclusions, premiums, and provider reliability.
HealthCare.gov
Review Marketplace basics, eligibility, enrollment timing, plan options, and available local help.
Visit HealthCare.govNAIC Life Insurance Buyer’s Guide
Questions to consider about coverage needs, policy types, affordability, applications, and policy review.
Read the buyer’s guide (PDF)What we look for in insurance resources
Licensed providers, transparent ownership and compensation, clear policy limitations, useful comparison information, and no pressure to submit personal details prematurely.
05
Future Planning
Turn long-term goals into numbers
Use educational calculators to understand tradeoffs before selecting an account or investment.
Investor.gov Planning Tools
Access savings, compound-interest, retirement, fund-fee, and other planning calculators from the SEC.
Explore planning toolsCompound Interest Calculator
See how an initial amount and regular contributions could grow under different time and return assumptions.
Estimate potential growthWhat we look for in investing resources
Low and clearly disclosed costs, understandable risks, appropriate regulatory oversight, educational value, and no promises of guaranteed returns.
Our standard
How resources earn a place here
- Usefulness comes before commission.
- Free or lower-cost alternatives are included when they can do the job.
- Costs, important limitations, and affiliate relationships are stated plainly.
- We do not recommend a product merely because it pays more.
- We periodically review links and remove resources that no longer meet these standards.
This information is educational and is not individualized financial, legal, tax, insurance, or investment advice.